Culture
“It is a culture with rules but little structure, with values but questionable morality, and with codes but not much consistency” (Oliveira and Burke, 2009, p. 160)
Culture: "... a broad term that encompasses many aspects about an individual... a way of living, including values, beliefs, standards, linguistic expression, patters of thinking, behavioral norms, and styles of communication that influence the behaviors of a group of people" (Black, 2014).
Family
Because many homeless children are estranged from their families or have unhealthy relationships with their parents, it is extremely common to have “street families”. In order to survive the homeless lifestyle as a child, it is important for the homeless adolescent population to establish their street family, as this support group can provide each other with resources and support. Although homeless children grow up with unhealthy relationships and attachments, having a street family provides an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.
(Oliveira & Burke, 2009)
Socialization
(Oliveira & Burke, 2009)
The environment of the homeless adolescent population is typically either school or at their nighttime residence, which is likely a shelter, car, or outside. This limits the opportunities for homeless children to socialize. A study conducted by Oliveira & Burke (2009) found that it is common for the homeless population to have universally known meeting areas in the city or town they live in. Many times this area is a park or common area that people will go to if they want to socialize or meet with other people in their community. In Grand Rapids, some common meeting areas for the homeless population include Pekich Park and Heartside Park, which is approximately a block away from the homeless shelter.
Music
Oliveira & Burke (2009) found that music is described by homeless youth as one of the most important aspects of their culture. Although homeless youth often have very minimal material possessions, it was found that almost all homeless youth own a music player of some form. Music is a way to bond with their peers, as they are not often able to bond on other levels if their friends are not homeless. Music, specifically hip hop, is also a way to feel understood and validated for their situation and potential behaviors.
(Oliveira & Burke, 2009)
Socioeconomic
(Oliveira & Burke, 2009)
Because homeless children are unable to work, due to being too young or being stereotyped, drug dealing is a common occupation used to make money in this culture. Not only does this job support their financial needs, it can also support potential, existing drug addictions. Drug dealing often takes the form of most formal companies, as there is a hierarchy within the business. Because unemployment is extremely common with homeless youth, this population has to find other ways to survive. Unfortunately this has caused this culture’s socioeconomic model to be built around drug dealing. ​
Mental Health
("U.S Department of Housing and Human Development", 2015)
Unfortunately, mental health conditions are much more prevalent in the homeless population than any other cultural group. It is typical that people either become homeless due to a severe mental health diagnosis or a person begins to experience substance abuse or depression due to being homeless. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Human Development (2015), at least 25% of the homeless population has a severe mental illness, and at least 45% of the homeless population has a mild to moderate mental illness. Statistics have not been found on the prevalence of mental health in homeless children. Lastly, although mental illness is extremely common, it is not common for this culture to consider improving their mental health by searching for resources or services. This is due to the lack of access they have to these services which are often expensive and require insurance and transportation.
Food
Homelessness is going to have a large effect on a child’s food intake, food preferences, and their overall attitude and perspectives on food. Richards & Smith (2007) conducted a study which found that the three main factors which affect a child’s food intake are environmental, parental, and personal. It was found that the environmental influence is the most impactful, as even if a child has a personal preference for certain foods, it was expressed by the study participants that they were not happy with the quality of the meals provided or the meal times. The children expressed that meal times were often too early, which caused them to have to eat junk food for dinner or skip dinner all together. Although it seems counterintuitive, it has actually been found that there is a high rate of obesity within the homeless adolescent population. Is is believed to be due to the fact that whether the children are receiving their food from a homeless shelter or from what their parents can afford, the food they are provided is often not energy rich, nutritous, or healthy. The lack of finances, storage, and refrigerator space homeless shelters have typically results in unhealthy meal options. Richards & Smith (2007) found that most children in their study complained of regularly experiencing stomach aches, headaches, and food poisoning from homeless shelter meals. Apart from homeless shelters, it is common that homeless families have to rely on stores near the homeless shelter for food. Because homeless shelters are typically in the middle of cities to alleviate any need for transportation, it is often that external meals consist of gas station food, snacks, or fast food.
(Richards & Smith, 2007)
Self Care and Personal Hygiene
(Leibler, Nguyen, Leon, Gaeta, and Perez, 2017)
Although many people may think that self care and personal hygiene are not common in the homeless population, a study conducted by Leibler, Nguyen, Leon, Gaeta, and Perez (2017) found that the majority of the homeless population engages in regular bathing, hand washing, and washing clothes. This study also found that 89% of the homeless population regularly uses hand sanitizer when on the street. The largest barriers this study found of engaging in self care and personal hygiene include having a psychotic mental health condition, substance abuse disorder, or sleeping on the street. Although most homeless shelters offer showers, they do not accept people who appear intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, which means people who are dependent on substances rarely have the opportunity to bathe. This is less common in the homeless children population. Although many of this study’s participants regularly bathed and washed their clothes, they reported having the opportunity to do this because they often use their friends’ washers, dryers, and showers. This means that the occupations of self care and laundry look much different in this culture than other American cultures, as they are often done in unfamiliar and inconsistent locations. Thes frequency of these occupations also drastically decreases if a person has a substance abuse disorder or is sleeping on the street, rather than in a car, homeless shelter, or on a friend’s couch.
Education
Study results from the University of Michigan have found that in the 2016-2017 school year, homeless children have the highest dropout rate than any other group in the state of Michigan. This study also found that the dropout rate of homeless children is increasing, despite the dropout rate of all other cultural groups decreasing. On average, only 55% of homeless students graduate in 4 years, in comparison to Michigan’s 80% graduation rate. Unfortunately, these statistics are reality for the homeless adolescent population because this group lacks the resources to be able to attend school. For many homeless children, attending school and becoming educated is not a main priority, as they have to focus on their basic survival needs.
(Erb-Downward, 2017)